441. Editorial Note

The Peopleʼs National Congress (PNC) of
Prime Minister Burnham won 30 of
the 53 seats in Parliament in the December 16 elections. Burnhamʼs PNC won 50.7 percent of the domestic vote and a heavy
majority of the overseas which raised his total to 55.8 percent of the
registered voters. The United Force (UF)
party of Portuguese businessman Peter
DʼAguiar emerged from the election with only 4 seats in
Parliament. Jaganʼs Peopleʼs
Progressive Party (PPP) won only 19
seats. (Airgram A–349, December 31; National Archives and Records
Administration, RG 59, Central Files 1967–69, POL 14 GUYANA)

Ambassador Carlson reported that
Burnham “was somewhat
disappointed at not making greater inroads into East Indian community
[Jagan got almost all of
their votes] in view his four year record of peace, stability and
economic progress.” (Telegram 2201 from Georgetown, December 20;
ibid.)

Burnham named members of the
PNC Parliamentary delegation on
December 24 and named his new cabinet on December 31, including East
Indians and other non-Africans in both groups. (Airgram A–349, December
31; ibid.)

[text not declassified]

More information about U.S. Government reporting of the December 16
Guyana election is ibid., POL 14 GUYANA.